Three recently released publications will be powerful tools in shaping transportation policy in New York City beyond the Bloomberg Administration. Two are progress reports on Mayor Bloomberg’s 127-point sustainability agenda, PlaNYC; the other is the NYC Department of Transportation’s strategic plan.

Building a Greener Future
The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) PlaNYC progress report, Building a Greener Future, finds few achievements to hail on the transportation front because Mayor Bloomberg’s heavy reliance on congestion pricing as the tool to reduce gridlock precluded other traffic mitigation measures such as expansion of metered parking or reducing parking requirements in the City’s Zoning Resolution. The League, along with others in the advocacy community, calls for a long term vision for transportation planning that goes further than the current administration, into the next mayoralty and beyond. To do this, the NYLCV emphasizes the need to codify legislative guidelines and offices created during Bloomberg’s tenure that are making progress towards a more sustainable NYC.

The report also asks the City to increase its operating support to the MTA to help end the agency’s cycle of borrowing from the capital program to pay for operating expenses.

Progress on PlaNYC
A second report, released by Mayor Bloomberg on Earth Day, one year after the PlaNYC, was first announced, details the City’s efforts to fulfill the 127 initiatives of the plan. There is significant mention of the demise of congestion pricing in the Assembly and the dire funding situation for mass transit as a consequence. Most notable are improvements made to Select Bus Service (or the City’s BRT program) with the first route launching in the Bronx this June; the launch of a Transit Signal Priority System which will be used to move buses through congested intersections; a pilot ferry service this spring from the Rockaways to Manhattan; 60 miles of new bicycle lanes; an HOV lane on the Manhattan Bridge; three new bus stop designs and two new sidewalk designs to improve pedestrian /transit street transfers; 800 new bicycle racks; and 550 new Muni Meters. The report also forecasts milestones to be completed through 2009, setting up an important foundation for what we should be working towards in future years.

Strategic Thinking at NYCDOT
The New York City DOT is also establishing a strong foundation for future work. On Monday, the agency unveiled a strategic plan to a packed house at the Municipal Art Society. The impressive plan outlines a full agenda for the short time remaining in Mayor Bloomberg’s term and takes strides to guarantee the continuity and ongoing success of progress made. In her presentation, NYC DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan eschewed bland comparisons with other cities, instead claiming that the plan, “Sustainable Streets: 2008 and Beyond,” will be the framework for “The New York City Model” of a livable city. Highlights include:

– Cutting traffic fatalities in half by 2030 by increasing enforcement of traffic laws, including the expanded use of red light and speed cameras, and through pedestrian infrastructure improvements.

– Doubling the number of bicycle commuters by 2015 and triple the number by 2020.

– Implementing two BRT lines in the next year and a half and the implementation of three more after 2010. Commissioner Sadik-Khan recently presented the city’s BRT plan at a symposium hosted by TSTC, the Pratt Center, Straphangers Campaign and Transportation Alternatives.

– Creating quality public space by creating 4 new plazas a year, ultimately creating one in each community board. In addition, Broadway, Fordham Road and Main Street, Flushing will be transformed into main streets and community focal points. Using complete street design, these corridors will optimize public space and pedestrian friendly features – including 20 new automated pay toilets.

– Opening up the limited access parkways to trucks to reduce truck traffic on neighborhood streets. The initial parkway candidates are the Grand Central, Henry Hudson and the Belt Parkway.

On the institutional side, the agency hopes to reach out and train community leaders, overhaul their data collection (including the specific development of tools to track congestion relief, BRT and bicycling) and attract and retain staff that embraces innovation and livable streets concepts.

The report provides some perspective on how far NYC has come and how important it is to continue the good trends, no matter who is calling the shots. Just two years ago, the Campaign was criticizing NYC DOT’s many failures under previous Commissioner Iris Weinshall. (See, for example: “City’s Credibility on Transportation Ebbs,” April 4, 2006; “Limited Input for NYC Rapid Bus Study,” June 8, 2005; “Brooklynites Say City has Failed Traffic Challenge,” July 26, 2006). Today, a new era is upon us.